MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Aug. 17, 2020

David Hecker from the American Federations of Teacher-Michigan talks about the possibility of a "health strike" among Detroit teachers. Would Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey turn down additional federal money if it came to Michigan? Hear his response.

Brian Began of Grassroots Midwest explains how the current state House map was drawn to keep Republicans in majority for 10 years. He should know. He helped draw it.

MIRS intern Samantha Shriber begins her final round of in-person classes at Central Michigan University. She talks about the "witch hunt" that's going on with students shaming other students for not social distancing, among other observations from Mt. Pleasant.

And the MIRS crew talks about the U.S. Postal Service, the education package and more.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 10, 2020

Is Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox concerned by Tuesday's primary election turnout numbers? Does Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Lavora Barnes stand by her comment that those who support President Donald Trump are racist? Both chairs answer these questions and more.

Jenell Leonard of the Marketing Resource Group and T.J. Bucholz of Vanguard Public Affairs each give their predictions on Joe Biden's pick for Vice President, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visiting Delaware last week and the primary election highlights in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 3, 2020

The head of the Whitmer Recall effort allegedly gambled away as much as $2,000 from the campaign and then claimed a girlfriend stole it? An odd tale about the doomed effort to recall Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from office as uncovered by Simon Schuster from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (38:20). 

 

How to cut $3.1 billion from the state budget with Eric Lupher from the Citizens Research Council. Sen. Tom Barrett gets COVID-19 and the impact on the state Senate. Why Republicans may need to move off the nursing home story and Sinclair Broadcasting's Mikenzie Frost's last podcast before her move to the Baltimore media market on this week's episode.

MIRS Monday, July 27, 2020

Learn a little about a cyber school from someone whose been running one for 11 years, Bryan Klochack, superintendent of Michigan Connections Academy (:15-13:15).

 

Elizabeth Battiste of Martin Waymire sits in with the MIRS crew about the House Democratic incumbents and candidates raising $3.5 million in 2020 to House Republican incumbents' and candidates raising $2.3 million. (13:34-29:51), U.S. Senate candidates debate (29:52-36:05), and state government's uniquely deep $3 billion budget hole (36:06-39:39).

 

Special guest Michael Patrick Shiels, host of Michigan's Big Show, and the MIRS team talks about the state of the media in COVID-19, among other topics (39:40-55:03).

MIRS Monday, July 20, 2020

He spent roughly 40 years helping Republicans get elected in Michigan. Now Bob LaBrant, former Michigan Chamber of Commerce political affairs vice president, sees the "disaster" of a Donald Trump presidency ending after the November election. Why does he expect Republicans to spend several years in the "political wilderness" as a result?

 

Also, Andrea Bitely from Truscott Rossman joins the MIRS crew to talk about lengthy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses, boring congressional races and travel to Jacksonville, Fla., among other places.

MIRS Monday, July 13, 2020

Political consultant John Yob says the last few months haven't been positive for President Donald Trump and now is the time to "Burn the house down" and hold Democrat Joe Biden "accountable" for his record. 

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum says claims from Sen. Ruth Johnson that Michigan's election security is at risk are "ludicrous." She urged the Senate Election Chair to quit "fear mongering" and pass bills to help clerks count absentee ballots quicker on Election night.

And Detroit organizer Leon Hister talks about the 313 Liberation Movement and how cutting police budgets 50% would force a reinvention of law enforcement that would make communities safer.

MIRS Monday, July 6, 2020

Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and Kyle Melinn, editor of MIRS, talk with Publisher John Reurink during a June 18 video conference call on the state various state House and congressional races, among other election-related topics.

MIRS Monday, June 29, 2020

Michigan officials are not seeing evidence that the numerous civil rights/police brutality protests are linked to the recent COVID-19 bump in cases, according to Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. The state's second-in-charge also addresses police reform, police unions and facial recognition technology among other subjects.

Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) calls the concept of defunding the police "insane." She says she's not concerned about her primary challenge and addresses the question of whether she would support Republican Jason Wentworth for speaker in the 2021-22 term in case of a 55-55 House split after the 2020 election (49:08).

Ari Adler, the only person to serve as spokesperson for a Governor, Senate Majority Leader and House Speaker in at least the last 20 years, answers the question of whether the Legislature has been irrelevant since COVID-19 appeared in Michigan.

MIRS Monday, June 22, 2020

Why is the Department of Civil Rights' staff accusing its "untruthful, vengeful and cruel" management of creating a "toxic" work environment that has created "morbidly low" employee morale? Former Civil Rights Commission Chair Alma Wheeler Smith shares her opinion on a critical employee survey that revealed these accusations.

Senate Elections Committee Chair Ruth Johnson wants Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to put aside three hours to answer her committee's questions on elections-related issues. Johnson opines on no-reason absentee voting, allowing mailed ballots to be counted after Election Day if they are postmarked on Election Day or earlier and other issues.

Also, political consultant Mario Morrow of Mario Morrow & Associates joins the MIRS team to talk about what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would do if President Donald Trump tried to bring a political rally to a Michigan arena, how Republicans win when the conversation is on race relations and if Republicans can win with a citizens initiative to scale back the Governor's emergency powers during COVID-19.

MIRS Monday, June 15, 2020

Why is there tension between the Black community and police officers? Why do police departments struggle to recruit Black officers? What does a 10% cut in police departments look like? Robert Stevenson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs answers these and many other questions.

Brian Began from Grassroots Midwest goes over some of the trends he's seeing from state House candidates with Editor Kyle Melinn. The lower COVID-19 numbers in Michigan are vindicating Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a time when other states' numbers are spiking and MIRS intern Samantha Shriber shares her observations from the Donald Trump boat parade in Macomb County. Melinn shares thoughts on the Michigan Republican Party virtual convention and more.